Hartford Technologies Blog

When large pieces of machinery suddenly stop functioning, the results can sometimes be dramatic. This is especially true in the case of fluid power failures, where hydraulic and pneumatic systems that are being counted on to lift enormous amounts of weight stop functioning without warning. Outlined below are some of the worst consequences of fluid power failure, with each one serving as a sobering reminder about the importance of using the highest quality materials and components in fluid power systems.

Fluid Power Failure in an Aircraft

In modern aircraft, every aspect of a plane's movement is controlled via hydraulics. Without a functioning hydraulic system, pilots are unable to control a plane's left-right movement or its up-down movement. The only protocol for complete hydraulic failure in an aircraft is to vary the thrust of the engines to try and maintain some control of the plane. However, this is an incredibly difficult way to control an aircraft and is something that very few pilots could actually pull off. In other words, if an aircraft experiences complete hydraulic failure while in the air, it is going to violently crash in most every case.

This is unfortunately exactly what happened with United Airline Flight 232, when a ruptured hydraulic system forced the pilot to land the aircraft without any real control, resulting in the death of 111 passengers and crew.

Destroyed Equipment

Fluid power failure in a machine other than an aircraft isn't likely to be quite as deadly, but it is still extremely costly. If a piece of machinery is in the middle of lifting a heavy load when its fluid power systems fail, the damage that follows is likely to go far beyond the initial damage of the ruined fluid power systems. When thousands of pounds of weight is no longer being forced up, it's going to come down swiftly and destructively. In the event of a fluid power failure, not only will the machine be likely to suffer severe damage, whatever item or items that were being lifted are likely to be destroyed as well.

Costly Downtime

What is arguably the least dramatic consequence of fluid power failure is also often times the most costly. When fluid power systems fail, these systems, as well as any other damage their failure caused, must be fixed before the machine is operational again. The result of this is often days or even weeks of downtime for that piece of machinery. For companies relying on their equipment to finish a project, fill customer orders, or more, this downtime can be crippling.

Avoid Fluid Power Failure With Quality Components

As is easily seen, the consequences of fluid power failure can range from costly all the way to fatally catastrophic. By far the best way to avoid fluid power failure in the devices and equipment you design is to make sure you are using only the highest quality, precision-made components.